POWERLIFTING USA MAGAZINE.

TEAM CANADA at the USAPL Pacific Open included (left to right) Mark Vezina, Robert O.Smith, Nancy Carpenter and Jody Cranston. (thanks to Robert O.Smith for providing us this photograph).

( As reprinted from Powerlifting USA Magazine March/2007 ).
( Jody Cranston / Media ).

THE PROVINCE NEWSPAPER.

It takes a whole village to raise a champ

Darren Darby's corner is just as essential to his title-shot hopes as his fists; and both are growing day by day

By Steve Ewen, The Province

Darren Darby (centre) has a huge support network. From left, Jody Cranston (powerlifter and personal trainer), Jason Fenton (kick boxer), Paul Forde (MMA fighter), Barbara Barley (runs Sports Central Gym, where Darby does much of training), wife Denise Darby with children Kaden, Ethan, and Max, and Dr. Kris Bentz (naturopath).
Photograph by: Gerry Kahrmann, The Province.

Boxer Darren Darby checks out the technique of his youngest son, Ethan, during training for Friday's Rumble at the Rock. Darby is on the undercard.
Photograph by: Gerry Kahrmann, The Province.

Click HERE to read the entire article from The Province Newspaper Sports Section, Sunday June 14th 2009.

( Jody Cranston / Media ).

PANTHEON STRENGTH LEGION JUNE UPDATE.

Junes hot weather was definitely not a deterrent to the red hot Pantheon Strength Legion. The basement of PAC Gym, at the corner of Hornby and Smithe, was smoldering from Power and Strength not just the weather! Here are a couple highlights:

PETE - Multi hard, grinding sets with three plates for the Deadlift. This volume will serve him well for future top end strength. Then Pete finished off the work out with some Lat/Trap work. Well done!

JODY - Friday, the day before The Pantheon Strength Legion trained, I Bench Pressed 365 lbs. for one rep. Saturday, with The Pantheon Strength Legion, I Deadlifted 565 lbs. for a double. I am really happy with that 24hr. training period.

I am already looking forward to July's Legion work out. Everyone Welcome - Join Us!

( Jody Cranston / Pantheon Strength Legion ).

PANTHEON STRENGTH LEGION - MAY UPDATE.

RECORDS! RECORDS!! RECORDS!!!

Although the turnout was small; first weekend of May, great weather, The Canucks, etc.ect...The lifting was huge! Two new Personal Records were set by The Pantheon Strength Legion. Here are the highlights:

IAN - Ian Deadlifted 410 lbs.!!! That is practically a 100 lbs. increase in one year. That is allot of hard work and dedication paying off. Awesome job.

JODY - I did a 565 lbs. Deadlift for two reps. Both reps. were smooth and controlled and I Bench Pressed 365 lbs the day (Friday) before. That is an excellent 24 hrs. of training.

The Pantheon Strength Legion will reconvene the first Saturday of June at the same location. All levels welcome!

( JODY CRANSTON / PANTHEON STRENGTH LEGION.)

THE PANTHEON STRENGTH LEGION-APRIL UPDATE.

IAN GOES FROM 3 TO 4 PLATES IN 11 MONTHS.

After a one month absence, I competed at the Washington State Powerlifting Championships the first Saturday of last month, The Pantheon Strength Legion was back in a big way! This was one of the most successful training sessions we had with the main highlight being Ian's huge improvement from when we started eleven months ago. Here is the breakdown:

JODY - I came in early for my warm-ups so I peaked at 10:00 am with a 565 lbs. Deadlift. I then lifted 550 lbs. for a triple.

PETE - My good friend Pete did alot of Deadlift volume culminating with three sets of four reps. at 315 lbs. Pete has trained with me since the Fitness Quest days which is 10 years ago.

IAN - Ian has worked hard and has seen a big pay-off with all of his lifts, especially the Deadlift. To go from a 315 lbs. max to a 405 lbs. max in 11 months is a tremendous accomplishment and it looks like this is just the beginning.

After the Deadlifts we did some dumbbell rows and rear delt flys. This concluded a huge workout and incredible lifting by The Pantheon Legion. I am really looking forward to next month.

( JODY CRANSTON / PANTHEON STRENGTH LEGION ).

The Canadian Health Food Association 2009 Expo West

SHANI CRANSTON hOMe GROWN LIVING FOODS.


TOM MANNO PREMIA NATURALS.

I had a great time at The Canadian Health Food Association 2009 Expo West which was held at The Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre. I showed up and surprised my sister Shani who was there successfully marketing her incredible living foods line hOMe GROWN. We had a great visit while we walked around and tasted all the delicious and free products, pass the coconut juice. It was good to see Shani and Willy back from their winter in Mexico safe, sound and tanned. I look forward to seeing them again soon and I am very proud of them.

Also, at the same Expo I met up with my friend and World Bench Press Champion Tom Manno from Phoenix Arizona who was there overseeing the Premia Naturals booth with the very capable Arvan and Sanj. Tom endorses Premia Naturals products and I encourage everyone to try them.

Then on Monday, Tom met me at The Pantheon Athletic Club for a workout. Tom close-grip Bench Pressed 500 lbs. Fully paused. Fully controlled. WOW!!! Incredible raw strength. I did some Bench volume work and a very memorable workout was over and it was back to work. 18 clients/friends later, a great day was complete.

NOTE: Shani's website is www.homegrownlivingfoods.ca
Tom's website is www.premianaturals.com

(JODY CRANSTON EVENTS)

JODY CRANSTON BIOGRAPHY.

I am the owner of the Vancouver-based Highly Successful Fitness company, Power Shape Personal Training, a Business I established in 1997.
________________________________________________________

WABDL Canadian National Records are:

148lbs.
Bench Press:303lbs. Deadlift: 515lbs. (My Best Deadlift in The 148lbs. Division is 520lbs.USPF).
165lbs.
Bench Press:330lbs. Deadlift: 590lbs.
181lbs.
Bench Press:375lbs. Deadlift: 585lbs.
________________________________________________________

I have been featured on City TV's "Breakfast Television", Shaw TV's "The Express"(Sports Section),"The Richmond Review" and "The Richmond News". I also write a Fitness Column for "Urban Trendz Magazine". Recently I became a Co-Owner of "Oranj Dance and Fitness Spa" (oranjdance.com) in Kelowna where I exclusively developed : "The Cast Iron Indoor Power Bootcamp" , while continuing to train 16 to 20 people a day of all fitness levels in Vancouver.

( BNI Presentation ).

BIG BENCH PRESS AND DEADLIFT DAY.

A FULL DAY OF CLIENTS;
PLUS HEAVY LIFTING.






I think today, Friday February 20th, I did a workout worth documenting. It was suppose to be a heavy Bench Day with no other work and I had a one hour break at 9:00 to 10:00 to do this. I sprained my right Rotator Cuff (shoulder joint muscle) mid December and at first could not even bench 100 lbs. without some discomfort. My rehab programme has progressed rapidly and my bench press work has improved greatly since this injury.

Today, I pressed 335 lbs for one rep. without any problem. Then I pressed 185 lbs.(slightly more then my Body weight) twenty times to finish the workout.

So, why am I writing about a Bench Press 30 lbs. below my Max.? Well, after my workout I noticed I had a break for lunch at 12:30. That's when the idea hit me: "...skip lunch and do Deadlifts, it will almost feel like a Lifting Contest". Bench Press first, then Deadlift a few hours later with little or nothing to eat. Plus, if I do a 565 lbs. Deadlift and add that to my 335 lbs Bench Press that would equal 900 lbs. This would be done while weighing within the 181 lbs. Division on a Training Day! How do you say no to that? By 1:45 it was done, a 565 lbs. Deadlift. To reiterate: a 335 lbs. Bench Press plus a 565 lbs. Deadlift equals 900 lbs.!

By the end of the work day, I am feeling light-headed from the lack of nourishment. I didn't eat since 5:00 am but, after a busy day with clients and my workout, I feel great! And, Battle Ready for my next Meet.


( JODY CRANSTON / WORKOUT )
( PICTURE FROM WASHINGTON STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS 2008 )

THE PANTHEON STRENGTH LEGION FEBRUARY UPDATE.

Another great training session for The Pantheon Strength Legion. I knew we would have less then an hour to train(10 to 11). This includes setting up before and clean-up after. I did my Deadlifts earlier in the week, which I will still include below, so I could concentrate on Coaching, spotting and loading because of the limited time.

Ian - Lifted 365 lbs. With rep. work after, this included some Sumo-style Deadlifts.

Pete - Pete also lifted 365 lbs. then, four reps. with 315 lbs.

Dan - This was our Guest Lifter this month. Dan Deadlifted 225 lbs. 16 reps. and, 315 lbs. for 16 reps. between Squats. Wow!

Jody - I Deadlifted 565 lbs. for one rep. and 405 lbs. for eight reps.

As always, Excellent lifting with an awesome atmosphere for The Pantheon Strength Legion.

( JODY CRANSTON / PSL )

PANTHEON STRENGTH LEGION-DECEMBER UPDATE.

One final Work-out for The Pantheon Strength Legion before Christmas...actually two. For the New Year there will be two, count them, two Pantheon Strength Legion Work-outs per Month. The First Saturday of every Month at 10:00 am, and the Friday before at 6:00 am. That is twice within 24 hours.

For The December Work-outs we had Four Lifters, here are the Highlights:

JODY - 365 lbs. Bench Press for one Rep., then 185 lbs. for 24 Reps.

JUSTIN - Stiff-legged Deadlifts up to 315 lbs. with a Double Overhand and as always, perfect form.

IAN - A 365 lbs Deadlift for a single, then Rep-work with 315 lbs. This was followed by Dumbbell Rows and Leg Presses.

The Pantheon Strength Legion will reconvene in February at The New Times of : The First Saturday of every Month 10:00 am and The Friday the Day before at 6:00 am. Everyone Welcome!!!

(Jody Cranston / PSL)